Stellar Home Appraisals

10/01/2026

Have you ever wondered what improvements actually increase your property value? We've got you covered in our latest article!

One of the questions I’m asked most often during residential appraisal inspections is some version of, “What could I do to this house to increase its value?”

07/07/2026

🏡 **Is Central New Jersey's housing market beginning to change?**

For the first time since the COVID housing boom, we're seeing early signs of a potential shift in parts of the market.

📈 Homes in the $800K–$1.1M price range are sitting longer.
📉 More listings are reducing their asking prices.
🤔 Could this create new opportunities for buyers?

In our latest article, we explore what's driving these trends—and why an independent appraisal is more important than ever.

👉 Read the full article: https://stellarhomeappraisals.com/f/is-central-new-jersey-beginning-to-shift-toward-a-buyers-market

For nearly five years, the story across much of Central New Jersey has been remarkably consistent: limited inventory, intense buyer competition, multiple offers, and steadily rising home values.

06/16/2026

🏡 What's really happening in Somerset County's housing market?

Low inventory, strong buyer demand, multiple offers, and homeowners staying put because of higher mortgage rates continue to shape home values across the region.

Check out our latest Local Market Snapshot:
👉 https://stellarhomeappraisals.com/f/how-the-2026-spring-market-impacted-home-values-in-central-nj

Local Market Snapshot: How the 2026 Spring Market Impacted Home Values in Somerset County

06/09/2026

📣 Realtors: If you're entering a sale into the MLS "for comp purposes only," please don't stop at the sale price and one photo.

That sale may become one of the best comparable sales in the neighborhood—and incomplete data forces appraisers and other agents to call for missing information.

A few extra minutes today can save everyone time tomorrow.

👉 Read the full article: https://stellarhomeappraisals.com/f/why-complete-mls-data-matters-for-comparable-sales

As a residential appraiser, I can't tell you how many times I've found what appears to be the perfect comparable sale, only to discover that the listing contains almost no useful information because it was entered into t...

05/12/2026

🏡 “So… how are we looking on value?”

It’s one of the most common questions appraisers hear during inspections.

But in lending appraisals, confidentiality rules prevent appraisers from discussing value conclusions or sharing reports outside the lender/client relationship.

We break down why in our latest blog:
https://stellarhomeappraisals.com/f/why-i-can%E2%80%99t-discuss-value-or-share-the-appraisal-report

Our principal appraiser, Cris graduated from Montclair State University in 2006 with a B.A. in Justice Studies/Justice Systems. He began work in his family's appraisal office in 2007 and became a Certified Residential Appraiser in 2011. In 2022, he obtained the Home Measurement Specialist (HMS) desi...

04/27/2026

📊 The New Jersey housing market is heating up.
Buyers are competing. Sellers have leverage.
But not every contract price = market value.

Know what’s really going on 👇
👉 https://stellarhomeappraisals.com/f/understanding-the-new-jersey-spring-real-estate-market

04/12/2026

There are a lot of myths out there… and some of them can cost you real money.

❌ “The appraiser just uses price per square foot”
❌ “Upgrades always equal dollar-for-dollar value”
❌ “The appraiser is trying to hit the contract price”

In reality, appraisals are data-driven, independent, and a lot more nuanced than most people realize.

We’re breaking down the most common misconceptions in our latest blog.

When it comes to real estate transactions in New Jersey, few parts of the process are as misunderstood as the home appraisal.

02/26/2026

📏Is your home's square footage correct?

Public records in New Jersey are often outdated or inaccurate — and that can mean thousands of dollars in valuation differences.

Finished basements counted incorrectly.
Additions never updated.
Above-grade vs. below-grade confusion.

In our latest blog, we break down why square footage errors happen — and why ANSI-compliant measurement matters for your home’s true value.

If you’ve ever looked up your home on Zillow, your tax assessor’s site, or another public records database, you may have noticed something surprising:

02/10/2026

Find out more about our Estate Tax, Planning, and Retrospective appraisal services here!
https://stellarhomeappraisals.com/f/what-is-a-date-of-death-appraisal-and-why-may-you-need-one

01/20/2026

AGENTS! Don't leave your listing information up to inaccurate tax records or digital scans. Add VALUE to your listing with an ANSI Certified Home Measurement.
https://stellarhomeappraisals.com/home-measurement-services